Eye Condition Fact Sheet
Condition
Macular Degeneration aka Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
Description
Macular degeneration is a medical condition predominantly found in elderly adults in which the center of the inner lining of the eye, known as the macula area of the retina, suffers thinning, atrophy, and in some cases, bleeding. It may also occur in children and young adults as a hereditary condition. It is a disease that blurs the sharp, central vision you need for "straight-ahead" activities such as reading, sewing, and driving.
Parts of visual system affected/Effects on the conditions of visual system
AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. It does not hurt, but it causes cells in the macula to die.
There are approximately 200,000 new cases of wet macular degeneration in the United States each year.The average age of patients with the wet form of macular degeneration is the mid-70s. It rarely occurs before the age of 50. Wet macular degeneration is more common in whites, but occurs in all races.
A scene as it might be viewed by a person with AMD:
Treatments
Until recently, no effective treatments were known for wet macular degeneration. However, new drugs, called anti-angiogenics or anti-VEGF (anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) agents, when injected directly into the vitreous humor of the eye using a small, painless needle, can cause regression of the abnormal blood vessels and improvement of vision. Regular comprehensive eye exams can detect macular degeneration before the disease causes vision loss. Treatment can slow vision loss. It does not restore vision.It is important to note that cigarette smoking, sun exposure, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol have been thought to increase your risk of macular degeneration.
In contrast, antioxidant containing foods are thought to be beneficial for patients with macular degeneration. The most popular antioxidants, called carotenoids (are the pigments which give fruits and vegetables their color).
Is condition congenital, adventitious, progressive or stable?
The lifetime risk of developing late-stage macular degeneration is 50% for people who have a relative with macular degeneration versus 12% for people who do not have relatives with macular degeneration; a fourfold higher risk.
Anticipated functional implications of the condition
Blurred vision
Trouble discerning colors
Macular degeneration by itself will not lead to total blindness. For that matter, only a very small number of people with visual impairment are totally blind. In almost all cases, some vision remains.As people age, their chances for developing eye diseases increase dramatically. Unfortunately, the specific factors that cause macular degeneration are not conclusively known and research into this little-understood disease is limited by insufficient funding.
References
Ophthalmo-logy Made Ridiculously Simple, Stephen Goldberg, MD, 2001 Miani: FL pgs 36 and 37.